GCA President refuses to quit, says has BCCI backing

Panaji: Controversial Goa Cricket Association (GCA) President Vinod Phadke on Thursday ruled out resigning from his post over the alleged 2001 fake ticket scam, and instead claimed that the Indian cricket Board was firmly behind him.

"There is no question of me stepping down. I have informed the BCCI about the show cause notice issued by the state government. The BCCI is firmly behind me. I will be meeting the Board officials within a week over the issue," Phadke told PTI.

The GCA managing committee, which met yesterday, had resolved that Phadke should step down to save the body from being de-recognised by the state government.

The government had warned of de-recognition after GCA failed to implement the recommendation?of Justice Pendse Commission, investigating the 2001 India-Australia ticketgate at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, where chaos prevailed during the match when bogus tickets were sold to cricket fans.

The Commission, which probed the scam, had recommended that all the then members of the managing committee should be barred from managing the affairs of GCA.

The panel was against Phadke participating in the affairs of the cricket body.

"I will complete my tenure, which is getting over next year in August. After that I am not willing to contest for GCA President's post ever. I know that GCA is not my property but I took over the charge because I want to do something for cricket," Phadke, who was manager of India Under-19 World Cup winning team in 2012, said.

The GCA President said that Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has been always supportive of him.

"CM has promised me one term. I am happy with the support he has been giving," Phadke commented.

While blaming few GCA members, and naming its vice-president Shekhar Salkar as the leader of the pack, Phadke said these members were not happy with GCA achieving so much.

"We have already acquired land for cricket stadium near

Bicholim. My aim was to start construction of the stadium. Some of the members are not happy that its happening in my tenure. Shekhar Salkar is one among them," he said.

Salkar had said yesterday that the resolution asking Phadke to quit was passed to save the body from being derecognised.

"Majority of the GCA members want Phadke to step down," Salkar had told mediapersons after the managing committee meeting.